Let me just preface this by saying that, my home is not perfectly clean. As I type this, I’m sitting in my living room that is gorgeously decorated for Christmas on one side of the room and on the other there’s a table piled full of all kinds of crap that needs to be gone through and organized. It’s all about balance, my friends, and boy is this room perfectly balanced. A little bit of clean and a little bit of mess. I dig it.
There’s no such thing as perfection when it comes to keeping a clean home and also having a family. No matter what, every time I clean the bathroom Cory shaves his face or cuts his hair the same day and messes it all up. Or Alea trails behind me making a path of disaster while I’m cleaning in front of her. Cleaning with a messy child is sometimes like jogging in place, you know?
Here are some tips I have for all of you out there who are trying your darnedest to keep a (mostly) clean home. There’s not such thing as a spotless home or at least a spotless home for more than 5 minutes, so you can just go ahead and erase that expectation right out of your head!
one | Do a Little Everyday: This is always a struggle. I’m more of a Saturday morning cleaner. I work everyday during the week and most days when I get home from work, it takes everything in me just to keep my eyes open until my early bedtime rolls around.
two | Invite Guests Over: There’s no other time my house gets cleaner than when we invite company over. I love that mad dash to get everything clean, organized, and in order before they arrive and how great it feels to show off your freshly clean home to them. Pro Tip: You won’t have to hide the awful cleaning product smell that tends to linger, either, if you use the beautifully scented method cleaning products!
three | Don’t Get Behind on Laundry: Laundry! The arch nemesis of every mother out there. As soon as you think you’re all caught up, more just piles right up. The key to this? Much like #1, you need to stay on top of it. If your husband doesn’t mind, have him do the loads of laundry and the rotating, then you can put away the clothes or vice versa. We like to divide up everyone’s clothes into their own clothes baskets. It makes putting away laundry so much easier! Find a system that works and stick to it! Or just buy pretty smelling and beautifully designed laundry detergent and fabric softener to make things a little more exciting. I won’t judge either way!
four | Set the Timer: Don’t really feel up to cleaning? Set the timer on the microwave for 10-15 minutes and start picking things up and putting them away. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done in that timeframe and you might even be inspired to add a little more time and keep going!
five | Get a Husband Who Cleans: Cory has seriously been my lifesaver lately. He gets laundry going for me, he does the vacuuming, and he’s always been in charge of cleaning the shower. He does lots of other tasks around the house for me lately, as well, and I have to just give him all the kudos. Our house wouldn’t be half as clean as it is without his help! (Thanks honey!)
I know those aren’t any earth-shattering tips you haven’t heard before, but I dare you to start using a few of them and see how much cleaner your home stays. I mean, with the exception of finding a husband who cleans, because I don’t expect you single ladies to spend the time you could be cleaning, speed-dating instead or something. Now that’s just ridiculous.
Any little bit helps, though! It’s just all about finding what system works for you!
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What are your tips for keeping a mostly clean home?
YES TO #5! It pains me to hear about women who do 100% of the housework in their house, because I just don’t understand it. Dave definitely does half the cleaning in our house!
Yep. I set a timer all the time. And a trick I have been using for the past three months is this- in the morning my hubby takes our two yr old tondaycare and they leave 15 min before I do. I do something every monring- empty the dishwasher, fold a load, pick up toys in one room. It has made a difference.